Melania Trump weighs in on #MeToo, says both women and men need support

Melania Trump believes that we need to support both women and men in the #MeToo era. (Carolyn Kaster / AP)

First Lady Melania Trump believes victims of sexual abuse deserve a platform for speaking out, but should be able to back their claims with concrete evidence.

Trump, 48, weighed in on the #MeToo movement in an upcoming sit-down with ABC News, and buckled down on her backing of sexual assault victims.

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“I support the women, and they need to be heard,” she said. “We need to support them, and also men, not just women.”

Trump added that she believes those coming forward with allegations must have concrete evidence to support their claims.

“We need to have a really hard evidence that if you’re accused of something, show the evidence. I do stand with women. But we need to show the evidence,” she said. “You cannot just say to somebody, I was sexually assaulted, or you did that to me, because sometimes, the media goes too far. And the way they portray some stories, it’s not correct. It’s not right.”

The first lady knows first-hand what it’s like to face accusations – her husband, President Trump, has been accused of sexual assault by nearly two dozen women, many of whom came forward after the October 2016 release of a tape in which he was heard bragging about grabbing women by their genitals.

He has denied all allegations against him, which include claims of groping, harassment and forcible kissing.

The Republican has repeatedly claimed that his accusers were paid to fabricate stories about him, and said Monday in light of the allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh that now is a hard time to be a man in America.

“It is a very scary time for young men in America, where you can be guilty of something you may not be guilty of," he said.

Son Donald Trump Jr. also made headlines earlier this month for saying that he found the #MeToo movement “scary,” and feared more for his sons than his daughters.

Still, the first lady’s declaration that she stands with women echoes that of the president’s daughter, Ivanka, who in February said she was “proud” of women “who are standing up in the face of accusers with credible evidence and credible stories.”

Meanwhile, Melania Trump also expressed disappointment that multiple organizations and foundations she’s tried to work with have turned down a partnership due to the policies of the Trump administration.

“I feel like they’re choosing the politics over helping others,” she said. “I would not talk about it, they know who they are, I don’t want to put them out in front of the world, but they know who they are.”

“Being Melania: The First Lady,” filmed in Kenya amid her African country tour, will air on ABC Friday at 10.